There are perhaps a few things more magical than a perfectly executed kiss. Conversely, there are perhaps few things less appealing than a slobbery, sticky, choppy kiss. While mastering the make out takes a lot of practice with the right person, there are several approaches you can take to becoming a better kisser. Follow the suggestions below to learn about the basic techniques associated with an awesome smooch and find out how you can step up your kissing game.

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Method 1 Quiz

What are some of the things you can do to improve your kissing technique?

Take your best guess, or read below to learn the answer.

Be quick and passionate.

This isn’t correct. While fast, hard, passionate kissing may look appealing in the movies, it may not be as appealing in real life. You are better off starting slow and light, and then you can gradually build up to more intense, passionate kissing if it feels right. Try another answer...

Try to make the kiss as moist as you can.

Not quite. Wet kisses are not appealing to most people. There will undoubtedly be some saliva passing back and forth, but it is best to minimize it. Try to remember to swallow your saliva and don’t open your mouth too wide either. Try another answer...

Alternate the position of your head while kissing.

Not exactly. It’s okay to tilt your head to one side while you are kissing someone, but avoid shifting your head back and forth. Each of you should pick a position and stick with it. Only change positions if you get uncomfortable. Try another answer...

Tickle your partner’s lips, tongue, and gums with your tongue.

Correct! It is best to use a light touch when you are French kissing someone. Aim to gently run your tongue along your partner’s lips, tongue, and gums while you are kissing them. Read on for another quiz question.

Keep your eyes closed.

Not quite. Taking the occasional break to look into your partner’s eyes can be a nice, romantic touch. Don’t be afraid to open your eyes now and then and look at each other. Try another answer...

Steps

Method1

Learning the Technique

1

Take the slow approach. Lean in slowly for the kiss to build dramatic anticipation. The more excited you and your partner are for a kiss to commence, the more intense it will be when you finally connect your lips.

Start off with small pecks and build up to bigger and more intense kissing. By starting small you can slowly ease into an intimate act with your partner.

Take breaks between kissing your partner to look at one another without touching lips. You can leave your hands on your partner's hips, shoulders, or run your hands across your partner's face in smooth caresses. By staring into your partner's eyes, you can show him/her that you are truly absorbed in them as a unique person.

2

Leave the slobbering to your dog. There's nothing worse than a slobbery kiss. Just nothing. Other than making you appear to have no idea what you're doing, nobody wants to have your spit all over their face. Well, maybe just a little bit of spit.

Keep your lips gently pursed. You want your lips to be in a nice plump purse, but avoid pursing your lips too tightly. If you tighten your lips together too strongly in a protruding kissy face, your lips will lose their plumpness and will not be as luscious for kissing.(Ladies: this is the same kissy face you make when putting on your lipstick!)

4

Tilt your head slightly to one side or the other. Most right-handed people will feel more natural tilting their head to the right, and left-handed people will prefer to tilt left. The important thing is that you and your partner are tilting the same direction (i.e. both to the right or both to the left), which will create a mirror-effect and allow you to lock lips.

Transition smoothly between tilting your head to the right and the left. You can make your kissing game more interesting by changing up movements from side to side every few kisses. The transition should come at the end of a kiss and the beginning of another.

Don't move your head from side to side too frequently. Doing so can create sloppy rhythm and can become uncomfortable for both people involved.

5

Use your tongue to French kiss. Slowly and lightly sweep your tongue along your partner's lower lip, tongue, and gums. Start off very gently and slowly increase in pressure and pace as your partner starts to return the tongue action.

Don't stick your entire tongue in your partner's mouth, you really only need to use about the front third of your tongue. Use quick, sweeping motions and make sure that your tongue is constantly moving. Letting your tongue fall limp in your partner's mouth is not sexy.

This is where it can really get slobbery. Make sure to swallow often to avoid allowing too much saliva to build up in your mouth and spill over into your partner's mouth. There is a fine line between sexy and slobbery. Try not to cross it.

6

Break up the kissing with romantic stares. Pull your lips apart every once in a while to put some space between you and your partner and gaze into each other's eyes. Taking a break can make your kissing all the more intense once you reconnect. Plus, there's no better way to show someone you are truly paying attention to them than by staring sweetly into their eyes.

7

Be creative. Try different gentle nibbling/sucking/kissing/tongue combinations to keep it fresh and exciting.

Interrupt your kissing with small bites and nibbles. A sensual nibble on your partner's bottom lip can break up with rhythm of lip kissing in a good way. Be careful not to bite your partner's lip too hard, you're not trying to eat your partner's face.

Mix in small pecks with larger, more passionate kisses. Doing so adds variety and allows you to take breaks in between intense make-out sessions.

Method2

Using Your Whole Body

1

Pay attention to your partner's body language. Kissing isn't just about paying attention to what you and your partner's lips are doing. Your whole body should be involved in the act of making out to achieve the most sensual and pleasurable experience possible. The way your partner moves the rest of his/her body while you are kissing can tell you a lot about how they are feeling and what they think about your performance.

Positive signs to look for: Your partner pulling you closer, squeezing you with his/her hands, kissing and caressing with a sense of intense urgency, breaking into random smiles or giggles, or frequent sighing. If you notice that your partner reacts in a particularly positive way to certain actions, be sure to take note. Your partner will appreciate your attentiveness and definitely recognize that you are making an impressive effort to understand what makes them feel the best.

Negative signs to look for: Your partner pulling away, pushing your shoulder away, not touching you at all with his/her hands, barely moving his/her lips, or trying to close his/her lips as much as possible to force you to stop.

2

Caress your partner's neck, ears, and face. A mini massage of these sensitive areas can be extremely arousing. Lightly run your fingers and gently run your thumb in a sweeping motion over these areas.

3

Grab your partner's arms, shoulders and back. You can be a little more rough with these areas. A tight squeeze of your partner can send chills throughout their body. If you're feeling particularly sassy, give your partner a little butt squeeze. You'll be able to tell where they like to be touched by their body language.

4

Place your hands on your partner's shoulders or around his/her waist. Move your fingers and/or thumb gently back and forth in a swaying motion to sweetly show your partner that you're there.

While women generally put their hands on a man's shoulders and men generally wrap their arms around a woman's waist, your position will more practically depend on the height difference between you and your partner.

That being said, the placement isn't really important, the recognition of each other is what counts.

5

Take your index finger or thumb and use it to lift up you partner's chin as you look into his/her eyes. Then go in for the kiss. This slight moment of visual recognition coupled with a light touch can be subtly pleasant.

6

Gently pull on your partner's hair by running your fingers through the hair on the back of his/her head just above the neck. These gentle pulls really say "I want you."

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Method 2 Quiz

True or False. If your partner starts giggling or smiling, then they might not be taking things seriously.

True

Not quite. Giggling and smiling during a makeout session are usually good signs. It means that your partner is probably enjoying him or herself, so don’t worry if this happens. Can you find a better option?

False

Correct! It’s totally fine if your partner starts giggling or smiling during a makeout session. It does not mean they think what is happening is funny. Be willing to smile or giggle along with them. Read on for another quiz question.

Method3

Avoiding Bad Breath

1

Stay hydrated. A dry mouth can lead to bad breath and sticky lips. Make sure to drink enough fluids daily to ensure that your lips are smooth and your breath is kissable.[2]

2

Avoid trigger foods and drinks that cause especially bad breath. More importantly, don't take your partner on a date to a restaurant that serves bad breath-inducing foods. Some common trigger foods are:

Brush and floss your teeth twice daily. While this tip may be a given for most, there are some people who neglect to accept the basic premises of good hygiene. Make sure to brush and floss twice daily to remove any bacteria build up in your mouth. Bacteria causes bad breath. Rinse with mouthwash for an added boost of freshness.

4

Have a mint or chew some gum. Especially after consuming any food, make sure to pop a mint or chew some gum before kissing someone. If you choose to chew gum, make sure to spit it out before you start kissing. Your partner doesn't want to eat your leftover gum, and gum can also cause you to choke while kissing.

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Method 3 Quiz

What can you do to avoid bad breath before kissing someone?

Don’t drink too much water.

Just the opposite actually! It is important to stay hydrated to ward off bad breath, so make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. Can you find a better option?

Have a cup of coffee.

Not quite. Coffee is one of the foods that can lead to bad breath. Even if your kissing partner loves coffee, they probably don’t want to taste it while kissing you. Try another answer...

Brush your teeth.

Correct! Brushing your teeth twice daily is an important part of having fresh breath. Remember to floss as well, and use mouthwash for long lasting freshness. Read on for another quiz question.

Pop in a mint or piece of gum just before.

This isn’t quite right. While having a mint or chewing a piece of gum can help to freshen your breath, it is important to do this a little while before kissing someone and spit it out before you start kissing. It would not be too pleasant for your partner if your gum or mint ended up in their mouth. Try another answer...

Method4

Prepping Your Peckers

1

Apply lip balm several times per day. Lip balms, especially products containing shea butter or various hydrating oils, are great for treating dry lips. Even if you generally don't have an issue with dry lips, lip balm can still make your lips even more kissable.

Though they may taste good, avoid lip balms with artificial scents, flavors, and/or colors. These additives can actually be drying to your lips.

Right before you kiss your partner, apply a menthol-based lip balm. Menthol activates your body's cold receptors, and when you make contact with your partner, you and your partner will feel tingling sensations throughout your bodies.[4]

Wear lip balm with at least SPF 15 when outdoors in order to protect your lips from harmful UV rays.

2

Wear an exfoliating scrub once per week. You can make an exfoliating scrub for your lips using a sugar or brown sugar base and a liquid addition. Olive oil, coconut oil, and honey all work well as additions to a sugar scrub.

You can apply a generous coating to your lips and rub it in small circles using a toothbrush for extra exfoliation.

Be sure not to scrub too hard, you just want to remove the dead skin, not make your skin raw.

3

Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Vitamins B, C, and Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely healthy for your skin. Make sure you are getting enough of these essential vitamins to keep your lips plump and soft.

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Method 4 Quiz

What should you avoid when choosing a lip balm?

Artificial scents, flavors, and colors.

Correct! Lip balms that contain artificial scents, flavors, colors, and other additives may dry out your lips. Look for an all-natural lip balm instead. Read on for another quiz question.

Menthol.

Not exactly. Menthol can actually produce some pleasant cooling sensations for your kissing partner. If you can find a lip balm with menthol in it, then try it out. Try another answer...

Sunscreen ingredients.

Not quite. Protecting your lips from the sun is important. Try to find an SPF15 lip balm. Can you find a better option?

Warnings

Don't pick a restaurant with spicy or stinky food for a date if you plan to kiss your date.

Just be careful about using your whole body when kissing someone, things can escalate quite quickly into something sexual. If you are prepared to do that, then make sure you take necessary precautions.

Don't bite or grab your partner too tightly when you are kissing. This can be a turn off, and it can hurt!